This video was taken in Lecce during our recent trip to Puglia and marks two things. One, is the beginning (middle?) of her “I do it myself” phase. Note the upside down sunglasses. The other is the up before the down. And by down, I do mean tantrum. Shortly after Phoebe’s happy stroller ride came a wailing wallop of no-way attitude when we asked her to do something pretty reasonable: get in the stroller.

We were on our way to one of the very few restaurants I’d looked up ahead of time to try on vacation. The New York Times and Chowhound, two of my most used sources, had mentioned Trattoria Cucina Cassareccia as the place to try. So we did and it was delicious. However, it was this episode that prompted our latest parenting decision. We’re not taking kids to dinner anymore. We’re a lunch-only group now. Dinner is reserved for those who can eat after 7pm without crying, a category that I sometimes don’t fit into either, but Paul doesn’t make me stay with the sitter.

Note: no babies were harmed during the making of this video. Estelle is safely tucked in the Bjorn, it’s “Mena” that you see in the seat here.